Development of Political Parties in Nigeria, Action Group for SS 3

Class: SS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 7
Age: 16 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Government
Curriculum Theme: Political Development and Governance
Previous Lesson: Development of Political Parties in Nigeria
Topic: Development of Political Parties in Nigeria
Subject Matter: PARTIES IN NIGERIA (Cont.); Action group (AG); (NPC); Northern elements progressive; Union (NEPU)

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Describe the formation and structure of the Action Group (AG), Northern People’s Congress (NPC), and Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU).
• State the main objectives and sources of revenue for each of these political parties.
• Explain the performance and roles of the AG, NPC, and NEPU in Nigeria’s political landscape.
• Identify and explain the reasons for rivalries among these early political parties.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the historical roles played by these parties in shaping Nigerian politics.
• Recognize the impact of regional and ideological rivalries on national development.

Psychomotor Domain

• Participate actively in discussions about the characteristics of the political parties.
• Identify key features of each party from provided historical data or charts.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Government for Senior Secondary Schools Textbook
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Charts showing the names and logos of early Nigerian political parties.
• Political map of Nigeria highlighting the regions of influence of AG, NPC, and NEPU.
• Textbooks on Nigerian Government and History.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is important for students to understand the historical foundations of Nigeria’s political system. By examining the early political parties, their objectives, and rivalries, students can grasp the complexities that shaped the nation’s governance and appreciate the evolution of its democratic processes.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have a basic understanding of what political parties are and some general knowledge of Nigeria’s colonial history and the struggle for independence.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Development of Political Parties in Nigeria

Action Group (AG)

The Action Group (AG) was a major political party in Nigeria during the First Republic.

1. Formation: Formed in 1951 from the Egbe Omo Oduduwa, a Yoruba cultural organization. Its leader was Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
2. Structure: Well-organized with a strong regional base in the Western Region, but also sought national influence.
3. Objectives:
   1. To organize and train members for political action.
   2. To achieve self-government for Nigeria and the Western Region.
   3. To promote federalism and democratic principles.
   4. To provide free education and healthcare.
4. Sources of Revenue: Membership fees, donations from individuals and businesses, levies on members, fundraising events.
5. Performance: Formed the government in the Western Region and was the official opposition party in the federal parliament.

Northern People’s Congress (NPC)

The Northern People’s Congress (NPC) was the dominant political party in Northern Nigeria during the First Republic.

1. Formation: Evolved from the Jam’iyyar Mutanen Arewa, a cultural association, in 1949. It became a political party in 1951. Its leader was Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.
2. Structure: Strongly based in the Northern Region, drawing support primarily from the Hausa-Fulani aristocracy and traditional leaders.
3. Objectives:
   1. To achieve self-government for Northern Nigeria within a united Nigeria.
   2. To safeguard the traditions, religion, and culture of the North.
   3. To promote the economic and social development of the Northern Region.
   4. To maintain the unity of the North.
4. Sources of Revenue: Membership fees, contributions from traditional rulers, donations from wealthy individuals, and levies.
5. Performance: Formed the government in the Northern Region and was the dominant party in the federal government, often in coalition.

Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU)

The Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) was a progressive political party in Northern Nigeria.

1. Formation: Formed in 1950 by a group of young, radical Northern intellectuals, including Mallam Aminu Kano. It emerged as a breakaway from the NPC.
2. Structure: Had a strong base among the ‘talakawa’ (common people) in the North, challenging the traditional elite.
3. Objectives:
   1. To liberate the common people (talakawa) from the oppression of the traditional ruling class.
   2. To promote social justice and equality in the North.
   3. To achieve true independence for Nigeria.
   4. To advocate for universal adult suffrage.
4. Sources of Revenue: Membership dues, small donations from supporters, and fundraising activities.
5. Performance: Served as the main opposition party to the NPC in the Northern Region and often allied with the NCNC at the federal level.

Reasons for Rivalries Among the Parties

The early political parties in Nigeria experienced significant rivalries due to several factors:

1. Regionalism and Ethnic Differences: Each major party had a strong regional and ethnic base (AG – Western/Yoruba, NPC – Northern/Hausa-Fulani, NCNC – Eastern/Igbo). This led to competition for control over their respective regions and influence at the federal level.
2. Ideological Differences: While all aimed for independence, their approaches and post-independence visions differed. For example, NEPU’s radical anti-establishment stance contrasted sharply with NPC’s conservative, traditionalist approach in the North.
3. Competition for Federal Power: The struggle for control of the federal government led to intense competition and alliances, often based on regional interests rather than national unity.
4. Differing Views on Pace of Independence: Some parties advocated for immediate independence, while others preferred a more gradual approach, leading to disagreements.
5. Economic Interests: Competition for control over economic resources and development projects within their regions and at the federal level fueled rivalries.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Explanation, Question and Answer, Group Work, Guided Practice

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Review/Engage

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and reviews the previous lesson on the general meaning and types of political parties. The teacher then introduces the topic by asking students to name some early political parties they might have heard of in Nigeria.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to the greetings, recall points from the previous lesson, and suggest names of early political parties.

Learning Point: Previous lesson review

Step 2: Action Group (AG)

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the formation of the Action Group (AG), its key leaders, its regional base, main objectives, sources of revenue, and its performance in the Western Region and federal parliament. The teacher uses charts or maps to illustrate its area of influence.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen attentively, ask questions for clarification, and identify AG’s features.

Learning Point: Action Group formation

Step 3: Northern People’s Congress (NPC)

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the formation of the Northern People’s Congress (NPC), its leaders, its strong base in the Northern Region, its objectives, sources of revenue, and its role in both regional and federal governments. The teacher encourages students to compare its objectives with AG’s.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, take notes, and participate in comparing the parties’ objectives.

Learning Point: NPC formation and aims

Step 4: Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU)

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Comparison

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU), explaining its formation, key figures like Mallam Aminu Kano, its focus on the ‘talakawa’, its objectives, and its role as an opposition party. The teacher highlights how NEPU differed from NPC.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, note the distinct features of NEPU, and understand its opposition role.

Learning Point: NEPU formation and aims

Step 5: Sources of Revenue and Performance

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Elaboration/Clarification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher further elaborates on the common and distinct sources of revenue for each party and summarizes their overall performance and impact on the political landscape of the First Republic. The teacher ensures students understand how these parties funded their operations.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and ask questions about party funding and impact.

Learning Point: Parties’ funding and roles

Step 6: Reasons for Rivalries

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Analysis

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains the various reasons for the rivalries among these political parties, focusing on regionalism, ethnic differences, ideological clashes, and the struggle for federal power. The teacher encourages students to discuss how these factors contributed to political instability.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen, contribute to the discussion on rivalries, and identify key causes.

Learning Point: Causes of party rivalries

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Mention two objectives of the Action Group.
2. Who was the leader of the Northern People’s Congress?
3. How did NEPU’s objectives differ from NPC’s?
4. State two reasons for rivalries among early Nigerian political parties.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Key party features

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on the formation, objectives, and rivalries of AG, NPC, and NEPU into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Board Summary notes

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes

Teaching Skill: Summarization/Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the main points of the lesson, emphasizing the distinct characteristics of the Action Group, Northern People’s Congress, and Northern Elements Progressive Union, and reiterates the significance of understanding their roles and rivalries in Nigeria’s political history.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and ask any final questions.

Learning Point: Early political parties

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Answer the following questions in your notebook:

1. Compare and contrast the main objectives of the Action Group and the Northern People’s Congress.
2. Discuss how regionalism contributed to the rivalries among Nigeria’s early political parties.
3. Research and write a short paragraph on the contributions of Mallam Aminu Kano to Nigerian politics.

Lesson Keywords

• Action Group (AG) – A major political party primarily based in the Western Region of Nigeria.
• Northern People’s Congress (NPC) – The dominant political party in the Northern Region of Nigeria.
• Northern Elements Progressive Union (NEPU) – A progressive political party in Northern Nigeria, advocating for the common people.
• Regionalism – A political ideology focusing on the interests of a particular region.
• Talakawa – A Hausa term referring to the common people or masses, often used by NEPU.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, the teacher can provide simplified notes or a graphic organizer to help them compare the parties. Faster learners can be tasked with researching the alliances formed by these parties or their impact on the 1959 federal elections.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, students can search on YouTube for “History of Political Parties in Nigeria First Republic” or “Action Group NPC NEPU Nigeria”.

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, ensure you have charts or maps ready to illustrate the regional influence of the political parties. Begin by eliciting prior knowledge to engage students. Guide the discussion on each party’s formation, objectives, and sources of revenue, encouraging students to draw comparisons. Pay particular attention to explaining the reasons for rivalries, as this helps in understanding the complexities of Nigerian politics. Allow ample time for questions and answers throughout the lesson. Students should copy the Board Summary notes after the main teaching points have been covered and evaluated. Conclude by reinforcing the key takeaways about the historical significance of these parties.